Vacuuming device having a collecting tank, in which different regions can be separated off, and method for exchanging a disposal bag in a vacuuming device

ABSTRACT

A vacuuming device having a separating device for separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device is provided, wherein the separating device includes at least one first separator and one second separator, and, in a base collecting tank of the vacuuming device, different regions of the base collecting tank can be separated from one another by a partition. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for exchanging a disposal bag in a vacuuming device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a vacuuming device having a separating device for separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device.

During the machining of a porous material with a power tool, in particular a drilling machine or a saw, a quantity of dust usually arises, which can be swirled up and as a result can considerably reduce the clear view of the working surface and the work performance in general. Usually, a vacuuming device or vacuum cleaner is used in combination with the power tool, in order to draw in the swirled-up dust.

The vacuuming device usually contains a filter for retaining dust and dirt particles that pass into the interior of the vacuuming device from the drawn-in air. Without a filter, the drawn-in dust or the drawn-in dirt particles could damage the turbine that serves to generate a vacuum inside the vacuuming device, and/or the sensitive electronics of the vacuuming device that serve to control, regulate and monitor the vacuuming device.

During the use of the vacuuming device, the drawn-in dust and the drawn-in dirt particles settle in the pores of the filter. As a result of the settling of the dust and the dirt particles, after a certain time, the filter is clogged so much that there is no longer a sufficient filtering action.

In order to protect the filter of a vacuuming device from an excessive quantity of drawn-in dust and dirt particles and to lengthen the period of use of the filter, a separator can be used in the vacuuming device. The separator serves to separate out dirt particles that are in the drawn-in air and is accordingly positioned in the vacuuming device such that the majority of the drawn-in dirt particles have already been removed from the air before the air flows through the filter. As a result of the majority of the dirt particles being separated by means of the separator, the period of use of the filter can be lengthened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Vacuuming devices with a separate separating device are already available on the market. The prior art includes, in particular, vacuuming devices which have more than one separating stage. This means that such vacuuming devices often comprise means by means of which different dust particles can be filtered out of the air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device at different locations in the vacuuming device. In this case, dust or dirt particles of different sizes are usually filtered out at the different separating stages. The problem with such conventional vacuuming devices with different separating stages that are known from the prior art is the fact that these vacuuming devices usually have one collecting tank for each separating stage. It is thus necessary in each case to provide as many collecting tanks in the vacuuming device as there are separating stages. In order to ensure dust-free disposal, as is required, for example, with safety vacuum cleaners of performance class M or higher, a sealable disposal sack or disposal bag must be used for each collecting tank. It is thus necessary to use as many disposal bags as there are separating stages. It would be desirable, in particular, if the number of collecting tanks could be reduced and if it were possible to use fewer disposal bags than separating stages.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-described disadvantages of conventional vacuuming devices and to provide a vacuuming device which manages with one common disposal bag, even though the vacuuming device provides a plurality of separating stages. It would furthermore be desirable if it were possible to provide a vacuuming device in which the regions in which the different partial quantities of dust and dirt particles were stored were separated from one another in such a way that no air or pressure compensating flows between the regions occurred and that the partial quantities were separated from one another in a substantially dust-free manner.

The present invention provides a vacuuming device having a separating device for separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device, wherein the separating device comprises at least one first separator and one second separator. The vacuuming device is characterized in that the vacuuming device comprises a base collecting tank, in which a disposal bag can be placed, wherein different regions of the base collecting tank can be separated from one another by a partition, and wherein the different regions of the base collecting tank can each be assigned to one separator, wherein the partition comprises a flexible seal, which is designed to seal the different regions of the base collecting tank in a dust-free manner with respect to one another.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a vacuuming device having a separating device is provided, wherein the vacuuming device comprises at least one first separating stage and one second separating stage. In the vacuuming device, the first separator is assigned to the first separating stage, and the second separator is assigned to the second separating stage. It is preferably possible for different regions of the base collecting tank to be separated off by a partition, wherein the partition comprises a flexible seal, which is designed to press the disposal bag against a bottom of the base collecting tank when the bag is inserted, wherein the different regions of the base collecting tank can be sealed in a dust-free manner with respect to one another.

The vacuuming device preferably has a collecting tank with an integrated partition, depending on the number of particle separating stages used. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the number of regions of the base collecting tank corresponds to the number of separating stages. For the purposes of the invention, this preferably means that two mutually separate regions are formed by the partition in the base collecting tank if the vacuuming device is used to provide two separating stages. For the purposes of the invention, the term “separating stage” preferably means that particles are filtered out of the air flow at different locations. This filtering out is preferably performed by separators, which together form the separating device of the vacuuming device. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that particles of different sizes can be filtered out of the air flow in the separating stages, for example. However, there may also be a preference for the filtering to be performed according to different criteria or properties, e.g. electrical properties. It is preferable if similar, identical or different separators can be used in the vacuuming device to separate the particles from the air flow, said separators then jointly forming the separating device. If the vacuuming device comprises two separating stages, for example, it is preferred for the purposes of the invention that the interior of the base collecting tank can be divided into two individual regions, wherein those dust particles which are filtered out of the vacuum-induced air flow by means of the first separator are collected in a first region of the base collecting tank, and those dust particles which are filtered out of the vacuum-induced air flow by means of the second separator are collected in a second region of the base collecting tank.

One significant advantage of the invention is that the pressure compensating flow between the separators or the associated collecting tanks which usually occurs in vacuuming devices owing to the provision of the sealing partition between the different regions of the base collecting tank is avoided. In particular, the invention leads to the virtual absence of backflow between the separators from the first separator to the second separator, wherein such backflow would impair the functioning of the proposed vacuuming device and would reduce the suction and separating performance of the vacuum cleaner. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the term “dirt particle” is used synonymously with the term “dust particle”. The terms include preferentially solid and/or solid particles which are preferably present in an air flow, i.e. in a gas or a gas mixture, which is preferably produced by a vacuum generated by the vacuuming device. For a person skilled in the art, the term “air” is not an unclear term because a person skilled in the art knows that it refers to a gas mixture which consists almost 80% of nitrogen (N₂), about 20% of oxygen (O₂) and small proportions of other gases or gas mixtures.

One particular advantage of the invention consists in that only a single collecting tank in the form of the base collecting tank must be provided in the vacuuming device proposed. As a result, the vacuuming device can be of particularly compact and space-saving design. Moreover, just one disposal bag is required since it is advantageously used or laid out in the entire base collecting tank. Through the provision of the sealing partition, individual regions are preferably separated off in the interior of the base collecting tank, with the result that individual regions for the different partial quantities of dust and dirt particles from the various separating stages are preferably also formed in the interior of the disposal bag. The partial quantities of dirt are preferably produced by the different separating stages, wherein a first partial quantity of dirt is separated out in the first separator, for example, and a second partial quantity of dirt is separated out in the second separator, for example.

Moreover, it is advantageously possible, through the provision of the sealing partition, to dispense with the provision of an additional, expensive port for receiving or exchanging the disposal bag, of the kind customary in conventional vacuuming devices. Since just one disposal bag has to be used in the context of the present invention, it is also possible to dispense with the provision of an integrated hose connection opening in the proposed vacuuming device, thus enabling the device to be of particularly simple and low-maintenance configuration. In particular, simple plastic bags can be used to receive the dust, thus making it possible to reduce the operating costs for the vacuuming device by means of the invention. It was surprising for those skilled in the art that it is possible to provide a vacuuming device which manages with just one disposal bag and/or collecting tank, irrespective of the number of dust separating stages used, even though dirt is filtered out of the air flow in the vacuuming device in at least two separating stages.

By virtue of the fact that the disposal bag can be pressed against the bottom of the base collecting tank by means of the partition, the disposal bag advantageously receives support on the tank bottom when a disposal bag is placed in the base collecting tank. For the purposes of the invention, this state is preferably referred to as the “case of insertion”. By virtue of the additional support of the disposal bag on the bottom of the base collecting tank, the disposal bag is advantageously stabilized, and adhesion or suction of the bag to/against the filter of the vacuuming device is avoided in an effective manner. In particular, the invention allows substantially dust-free disposal of the filtered-out dust and dirt particles from the vacuuming device without the need to close a flap for the hose connection.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the separators are connected in series. For the purposes of the invention, this preferably means that the separators may preferentially be arranged adjacent to one another in the suction head of the vacuuming device and, in particular, that the air or extraction flow of the vacuuming device flows through them in succession. For the purposes of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the air flow flows first through the first separator and then through the second separator, wherein different partial quantities of dust or dirt particles are filtered out of the extraction flow in the different separators. In particular, it is possible for dust or dirt particles of different sizes to be filtered out at the different separating stages, i.e. the different filter stages are preferably designed to filter the dust according to different particle sizes, or to filter out the dirt particles of different sizes at different locations in the vacuuming device if the individual separating stages are arranged at different locations in the vacuuming device.

In the context of the present invention, provision is preferably made for the vacuuming device to comprise, in a suction head, a vacuum cleaner hose connection for the through flow of an extraction flow, wherein the first separator, in particular, is designed to be flowed through by the extraction flow. In other words, the air flow flows through the first separator via a vacuum cleaner hose connection in the suction head. In particular, an unwanted backflow from the second to the first separator is advantageously avoided, wherein this advantage is achieved, in particular, by the separation of the different regions by means of the flexible seal. The flexible seal is preferably designed to seal the different regions in the base collecting tank in a dust-free and flow-free manner with respect to one another. For the purposes of the invention, this preferably means that substantially no dust is exchanged between the regions of the base collecting tank or that no air or compensating flows flow between the regions of the base collecting tank. Such air or compensating flows would occur, for example, if a partition did not have a flexible seal at the bottom because it would then be possible for a gap to form between the partition and a bottom surface of the base collecting tank, through which unwanted exchange of gas and material could take place.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the flexible seal comprises sealing lips or a sealing ring or is designed as sealing lips or a sealing ring. The flexible seal preferably forms a lower region of the partition or a connection between the partition and a bottom surface of the base collecting tank. By virtue of the preferred flexible design of the seal, the flexible formation adapts to the spatial conditions in the base collecting tank and seals off any gap between the partition and the bottom surface of the base collecting tank in a particularly effective manner, with the result that the unwanted exchange of gas and material between the different regions in the base collecting tank that are preferably assigned to the different separators is avoided in a particularly effective manner.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the partition is present in integrated form on a suction head. By virtue of this integrated embodiment, there is no need for an additional component which might be lost or forgotten. In this embodiment of the invention, the partition forms a component of the suction head of the vacuuming device and can be lifted off or removed together therewith. For the purposes of the invention, it is furthermore preferred that one of the separators is formed by a collecting tank for receiving dirt particles, a filter element for receiving dirt particles or a cyclone separator. In particular, it is also possible for the separator to be formed by a centrifugal separator. In particular, a separator can be formed by a surface filter or a lamella separator. The cyclone separator can preferably also be referred to as a cyclone, cyclone filter or cyclone dust catcher. For the purposes of the invention, configuration of the cyclone separator in the form of an axial separator is preferred, in particular, thereby ensuring effective and space-saving separation of dirt particles from the separating device. The use of electrostatic separators or air washing devices that operate with liquid is also conceivable.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for exchanging a disposal bag in a vacuuming device, wherein the method is characterized by the following method steps:

-   -   a) providing a vacuuming device having a separating device for         separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the         vacuuming device, wherein the separating device comprises at         least one first separator and one second separator, wherein the         vacuuming device comprises a base collecting tank, into which a         disposal bag can be placed during the operation of the vacuuming         device, wherein regions for receiving different partial         quantities of dirt particles are separated from one another by a         partition in the base collecting tank, wherein the partition         comprises a flexible seal,     -   b) opening the vacuuming device by raising a suction head of the         vacuuming device into an open position, wherein the partition         can be removed from the base collecting tank by opening the         vacuuming device, with the result that the disposal bag becomes         accessible from the base collecting tank,     -   c) removing the disposal bag from the base collecting tank,     -   d) placing a new disposal bag in the base collecting tank,     -   e) closing the vacuuming device by lowering the suction head         into a closed position.

The definitions, technical effects, configurations and advantages described for the vacuuming device apply analogously to the method. In particular, a vacuuming device having a plurality of separating stages for separating out dirt particles is provided. The disposal bag is preferably pressed against the bottom of the base collecting tank by means of the partition and is fixed there on the bottom by a lower side of the partition. In this way, the partition, which comprises a flexible seal, forms an effective barrier by means of which an exchange of gas and material between the regions formed within the base collecting tank is avoided. Through the provision of this barrier and of the seal, a transfer of dust from the first region of the base collecting tank into a second region of the base collecting tank is avoided in an effective manner. This first region is assigned to a first separator, for example, and is thus preferably designed to receive the dirt filtered out by the first separator. Similarly, the second region of the base collecting tank is assigned to the second separator and is preferably designed to receive the dirt separated out by this second separator.

In the context of the proposed method, it is preferred that the partition is present in integrated form on the suction head of the vacuuming device, thus enabling it to be removed by raising the suction head from the base collecting tank since the partition is moved upward with the suction head and thus out of the collecting tank by raising the suction head. As a result, the disposal bag becomes accessible and, in particular, can be removed from the base collecting tank in a simple and uncomplicated manner. For the removal of the partition, it is also possible to use an additional insert, for example. The suction head is preferably moved into an open position of the vacuuming device by being raised, wherein the exchange of the disposal bag takes place, in particular, in this open position of the suction head. After the exchange of the disposal bag has been carried out, the vacuuming device can be transferred to a closed position by lowering the suction head, wherein, in particular, the operation of the vacuuming device takes place in this closed position. The operation of the vacuuming device preferably takes place, in particular, with the disposal bag inserted, since the dirt and dust filtered out of the air flow can be collected and stored in the disposal bag in the base collecting tank of the vacuuming device. For the purposes of the invention, it may also be preferred that the collecting tank is emptied substantially completely when the vacuuming device is operated without a disposal bag.

Supporting elements, via which the suction head can be put down on a floor or a substrate when it is removed from the vacuuming device, can additionally be provided on the suction head. In particular, the supporting elements can be of longer design than the partition with the seal in order to avoid damaging or contaminating the partition and/or the seal. If the supporting elements are of longer design than the partition and/or the seal, a bottom surface of the base collecting tank can have recesses to receive the supporting elements to ensure that the partition with the seal can land flush on the bottom surface of the base collecting tank in order to obtain dust-free sealing of the regions formed via the partition in the base collecting tank. The supporting elements can be designed as standing feet or standing walls and can be connected to the suction head.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a separating module for a vacuuming device. Preferably, a separating device that can be connected to a vacuuming device is disclosed. In particular, the separating device is designed, in particular, for separating dirt particles out of an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device and preferably contains at least one separator. The separating module is characterized in that it forms a self-contained device which can be integrated as an optional additional component into a vacuuming device. For the purposes of the invention, it is very particularly preferred that the separating module can be arranged between the collecting tank and the suction head of a vacuuming device or can be integrated between said components. The separating module is thus distinguished from conventional vacuuming devices known from the prior art since particle separators have hitherto generally been known in the form of “stand-alone” solutions that can be used as external units in conjunction with a vacuuming device but are not integrated into the vacuuming device. For example, such stand-alone solutions can be secured on the side faces or on the upper side of the vacuuming device if required. In the case of other known solutions, individual separating components can be present in integrated form in the vacuuming device without being removed again. This lacks the configuration of the separating device as a module which can be inserted into and removed from the vacuuming device flexibly, easily and in a manner optimized for requirements. Such known embodiments are often expensive and prevent a space-saving embodiment of the vacuuming device.

The separating module for a vacuuming device can preferably be of particularly compact construction, thus enabling it to be installed between a collecting tank and the suction head without major effort. In particular, the proposed separating module forms an autonomous functional unit which can optionally be inserted between the collecting tank and the suction head. Moreover, this aspect of the invention makes it possible for the extraction volume in the vacuuming device, especially the flow through the filter, to be kept substantially constant.

For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the separating module comprises temporary collection reservoirs for receiving separated dirt particles, in which the dust can be temporarily stored before it is fed to the collecting tank of the vacuuming device. For example, the dust in the temporary collection reservoirs can be stored temporarily during the operation of the vacuuming device, in particular in a time interval between two preferably automatically running filter clearing cycles, for example. In this context, there may be a preference for the temporary collection reservoirs to be emptied when the vacuum in the vacuuming device is lowered owing to the filter clearing. The dust and dirt initially stored in the temporary collection reservoirs is preferably transferred to the collecting tank. By virtue of the fact that the temporary collection reservoirs filled with the dirt particles separated out by the separator are regularly emptied and the content thereof is transferred to the corresponding collecting tank, the separating device is emptied continuously. In this way, clogging of the separating module with dirt particles is prevented and the period of use or service life of the separating device and of the vacuuming device is significantly lengthened.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the separating module, a bottom element of the temporary collection reservoirs can be configured in the form of a nonreturn flap, such that, as a result of the bottom element configured as a nonreturn flap being opened, the dirt particles collected in the temporary collection reservoir can drop out of the collection reservoir. The bottom element can in this case also be referred to as an opening element. The separating device can in this case be positioned with respect to a collecting tank of a vacuuming device such that the bottom element, configured as a nonreturn flap, of the temporary collection reservoirs can be opened in the direction of the base collecting tank. As a result, it is possible, with the aid of gravity, for the dirt particles collected in the collection reservoirs to be conveyed into the collecting tank of the vacuuming device. As a result of the bottom element being configured in the form of a nonreturn flap, it is possible to effectively prevent air and dirt particles from being able to pass from the collecting tank of the vacuuming device via the collection reservoirs into the cyclone separator or into the separating device.

In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the separating device according to the invention, it may be possible for the separating device to contain a frame housing, which is positionable between a suction head and a collecting tank of the vacuuming device. As a result, the separating device can be retrofitted in a modular manner into existing vacuuming devices with a suction head and a collecting tank.

Further advantages can be found in the following description of the figures. The figure, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form useful further combinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures, components which are the same and components of the same type are denoted by the same reference signs. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a view of a preferred configuration of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a preferred configuration of a proposed vacuuming device (1) having a separating device (2). The separating device (2) comprises a first separator (3) and a second separator (4), which are preferably arranged adjacent to one another in the suction head (10) of the vacuuming device (1). The two separators (3, 4) are preferably connected in series, with the result that an air flow (LS), which is produced by a vacuum by the vacuuming device (1), flows first through the first separator (3) and then through the second separator (4). The inlet for the air flow (LS) into the first separator (3) is illustrated in FIG. 1 by the two short parallel lines (on the left in the drawing). For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the suction head (10) can be removed at least partially from the vacuuming device (1) in order to bring the vacuuming device (1) into an open position, in which the disposal bag (6) can be removed from the vacuuming device (1). The disposal bag (6) is preferably designed to receive the dirt filtered out of the air flow (LS) by the separating device (2) and any further filter devices. For this purpose, the disposal bag (6) can be placed in a base collecting tank (5) of the vacuuming device (1) in the open position of the vacuuming device (1). The base collecting tank (5) is preferably situated in a lower region of the vacuuming device (1) and forms said region.

A partition (8), which divides the interior of the base collecting tank (5) into regions (7) can be provided on the suction head (10) of the vacuuming device (1). In the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 1, two different regions (7) are formed by the partition (8) in the base collecting tank (5), for example. These two regions are denoted by the reference signs 7 a and 7 b. The regions (7) can preferably be assigned to the individual separators (3, 4) of the separating device (2), with the result that the dust that is filtered out by the first separator (3) falls into the first region (7 a), for example, and the dust that is filtered out of the air flow (LS) by the second separator (4) falls into the second region (7 b). In order to seal off the regions (7 a, 7 b) from one another in a dust-free manner, the partition (8) has a flexible seal (9), which is designed, in particular, to seal off any gaps between the bottom of the base collecting tank (5) and the partition (8). For the purposes of the invention, the term “sealing off in a dust-free manner” preferably means that substantially no dust can pass from the first region (7 a) into the second region (7 b) of the base collecting tank (5).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Vacuuming device

2 Separating device

3 First separator

4 Second separator

5 Base collecting tank

6 Disposal bag

7 Regions

8 Partition

9 Flexible seal

10 Suction head 

What is claimed is: 1-6. (canceled)
 7. A vacuuming device comprising: a separating device for separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device, wherein the separating device includes a first separator and a second separator, and a base collecting tank, a disposal bag being placeable in the base collecting tank, the base collecting tank having different regions separated from one another by a partition, the different regions of the base collecting tank each being assigned to one of the first and second separators, the partition including a flexible seal designed to seal the different regions of the base collecting tank in a dust-free manner with respect to one another.
 8. The vacuuming device as recited in claim 7 wherein the separators are connected in series.
 9. The vacuuming device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a suction head with a vacuum cleaner hose connection for through flow of the air flow, wherein the first separator being designed to be flowed through by the air flow.
 10. The vacuuming device as recited in claim 7 wherein the flexible seal includes sealing lips or a sealing ring.
 11. The vacuuming device as recited in claim 7 wherein the partition is present in integrated form on a suction head.
 12. A method for exchanging a disposal bag in a vacuuming device, the method comprising the following method steps: a) providing a vacuuming device having a separating device for separating dirt particles from an air flow drawn in by the vacuuming device, the separating device including a first separator and a second separator, and the vacuuming device including a base collecting tank, a disposal bag being placeable in the base collecting tank during the operation of the vacuuming device, regions for receiving different partial quantities of dirt particles being separated from one another by a partition in the base collecting tank, the partition including a flexible seal; b) opening the vacuuming device by raising the suction head of the vacuuming device into an open position, wherein the partition is removable from the base collecting tank by opening the vacuuming device, with the result that the disposal bag becomes accessible in the base collecting tank; c) removing the disposal bag from the base collecting tank; d) placing a new disposal bag in the base collecting tank; and e) closing the vacuuming device by lowering the suction head into a closed position. 